At the Serbian Cup semi-final between Crvena zvezda and Spartak Subotica, fans from the Delije group displayed a political banner reading: “When the army returns to Kosovo.”
The message, calling for the return of the Serbian army to Kosovo, marks a political statement being made in a sporting arena, reigniting concerns over the use of sports events in Serbia as platforms for nationalist and political messaging, rather than focusing solely on athletics.
The banner did not remain confined to the stadium. Photos and videos were quickly shared on a Telegram channel with around 22,900 followers, allowing the message to reach a wider audience online and beyond the immediate sports context.
This is not an isolated incident. Previous Red Star Belgrade events, both in football and basketball, have seen banners carrying similar slogans advocating for the army’s presence in Kosovo, demonstrating a continuing trend of politicization of sports in Serbia.
Analysts warn that such displays can escalate tensions and blur the line between sports and political propaganda, raising concerns among both fans and observers.
